Introductory description

Adopting a blended learning approach, the Study, Professional & Analytical (SPA) Skills Module is the only module within WMG that has been purposefully designed so as to meet the complex learning and professional needs of all postgraduate students. Offered as integral part of WMG's accredited programmes, the SPA module is also available on a non-credit bearing basis to students who may wish to take the module as an additional 'academic enrichment' activity.

Divided into three interlinked yet distinctive learning strands, Study Skills, Professional Skills and Competencies and Analytical Skills, the module will run both synchronously and asynchronously with the student learning journey providing a programme of carefully designed learning activities which, whilst made available to reflect the student schedule, may then be revisited at a later date

In addition to the learning activities ‘student support’ sessions will be offered regularly. These will take the form of drop-in sessions, one-to-one tutorials and on-line support.
The pedagogic approach adopted in all three streams will be one of blended learning including:

• Synchronous and asynchronous lectures, tutorials and workshops (All of the teaching will be offered on a blended learning basis so as to enable and enhance student engagement).
• Lectures, tutorials and workshops will be offered synchronously (live). These lectures will be team taught and offered using MS Teams Meetings or another suitable form of ‘live recording’.
• Hybrid Teaching: Where threshold concepts form the basis of learning (such as in the technical analytical lectures) a hybrid model of teaching will be adopted. This will allow students to attend a face-to-face workshop if they wish. Alternatively students will have the option of attending workshops ‘live-on-line’ as they occur
• Asynchronous lectures, workshops and other study opportunities: All SPA learning and teaching opportunities are pre-recorded using MS Powerpoint and / or 5HP video recording. A full transcript, together with links to relevant learning materials is provided for every learning event. .
• Active learning: On-line (quizzes, short films, interactive content etc.)
• Downloadable workbooks & other practical activities
• Reflective & reflexive exercises
• Individual and small group support.
• Self-Directed Study
• Directed Study (readings, online exercises etc)

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

SPA has been designed to reflect student learning and professional needs. The module is made up as follows:
Study Skills: 40% of study time [This strand prepares students with the high levels of study skills needed to succeed in their taught modules and research project].
Professional Skills: 10% of study time [This smaller strand has been designed so as to equip students with transferable employability competencies. Such competencies are integral to success across the whole programme and as such are embedded throughout the module]
Analytical Skills: 50% of study time. [This strand encapsulates all aspects of research skills from proposal writing, through to ethical approval, undertaking research and writing up].

Study Skills sessions will cover the wide-range underpinning academic support topics that students need to succeed at postgraduate level. From academic and technical report writing, through to referencing, making the most of feedback and learning how to think critically and express yourself broadly and academically, the Study Skills sessions have been purposefully designed to enable students to succeed, irrespective of previous qualifications, areas of study, culture or discipline.

Running asynchronously with Study Skills, the Professional Skills strand will account for 10% of the module. This Strand will provide students with the opportunity to develop a range of implicit and explicit transferable employability and professional skills which may be applied synergetically across all aspects of learning and will link directly to future careers.

The final strand of the module, Analytical Skills will account for 50% of the module. This strand will provide students with the required high level of knowledge and skills about research and research methods so as to enable them to successfully complete an independent and original piece of research. The Analytical Skills strand of the module will provide students with access to a series of lectures and on-line activities as well bookable expert workshops. In addition to the above, global competencies such as ethical behaviours and professionalism, critical thinking and multi-cross cultural working runs across all aspects of the module; equipping students with high level employability skills fit for the global workplace.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate the key transferable and employability skills of communication, presentation, and problem-solving to their area of study
• Support their argument and claims through correctly cited and accurately referenced sources of reputable knowledge and information
• Apply core study skills of academic writing and critical thinking to subject-related knowledge and practice
• Critically apply their knowledge of analytical skills in order to produce a research protocol

Indicative reading list

See reading list (above link)

View reading list on Talis Aspire

Research element

Half of the module focuses solely on the development, growth and enhancement of individual analytical and research skills so as to provide students' with the high level of analytical skills and competencies needed to undertake an independent, original piece of research.

Additionally, the study and professional strands of the module are also grounded in research. For example, right from the onset there will be a series of lectures and workshops on how to conduct 'desk' and internet research in an academically rigorous manner.

The module has been designed so as to be underpinned by the principles of scholarship whereby research, teaching and learning are intrinsically linked throughout.

Interdisciplinary

This module has been purposefully designed for all of WMG postgraduate students, irrespective of area of study or whether the student is enrolled on a full or part time programme. SPA is by it's very nature interdisciplinary; hence the module has been designed to incorporate examples from across the disciplines taught in WMG whilst also embodying the intersectionality of everyday professional life.

The core teaching team represent a range of different academic backgrounds and disciplines reflective of the interdisciplinarity represented within WMG. With learning and teaching materials co-designed by colleagues from engineering, science, business and social science backgrounds the module has been carefully designed to be suitable across disciplines so as to form a broad foundation for successful learning a postgraduate level.

It should be noted that part of the module will be dedicated to discipline-specific technical study, professional and analytical skills. This aspect of the module will comprise a series of additional 'sign-up' workshops, tutorials and sessions aimed at those students on technical programmes or with a technical interest.

International

The module is designed for a multi-discipline, international cohort and may be taught anywhere in the world. Learning materials and examples will be drawn from a range of disciplines, cultures and countries covering the whole range of subjects and disciplines taught in WMG. With real-life examples and case-studies drawn from across the globe used to teach specific core and threshold concepts.

Subject specific skills

A: Foundational Study Skills
B. Foundational Professional Skills
C. Foundational Analytical Skills
D: Intermediate Study Skills
E. Intermediate Professional Skills
F. Intermediate Analytical Skills
G. Advanced Study Skills
H. Advanced Professional Skills
I. Advanced Analytical Skills
J. Conducting Independent Research

Transferable skills

The introduction of the 'Professional Strand' will see a focus on transferable skills being embedded into all study and analytical skills learning and teaching. In particular, the key transferable skills which students will acquire on the module are:

1. Academic Writing
2. Writing for Employment
3. Critical Reading
4. Critical Thinking
5. Decision Making:
6. Ethical Conduct & being a Professional
7. Independent Learning & Study Skills
8. Inter-and-Multi-Cultural Working
9. Leadership Skills
10. Listening Skills
11. Note Taking abilities
12. Oral Presentation: Presentation skills will be embedded into the assessment
13. Problem Finding & Solving
14. Self-Management & Motivation techniques
15. Time Management